Activities

ACTIVITIES

Saturday, June 26
Pre-Meeting Medora Bus Trip - See Medora registration form for applicable fees. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for those who have never been to Medora, much less North Dakota. Come early and experience this great event. The west kicks up its heels at historic Medora, a unique mix of spectacular scenery, wildlife, outdoor adventure, entertainment, dining, and shopping nestled in the beautiful North Dakota Badlands. You will arrive in Medora in time to do some shopping in the unique shops in town. From there, you will experience the Pitchfork Fondue, cooked “Cowboy style” at the Tjaden Terrace, a beautiful open air shelter and terrace with a spectacular view of the North Dakota Badlands. Following supper, you are off to attend North Dakota’s number one attraction –the Medora Musical. The North Dakota Badlands provide a spectacular backdrop for the Burning Hills Amphitheater, home to this world-famous musical. Authentic western hospitality awaits you in Medora, where legends once lived, and their legacy lives on. www.medora.com

Sunday, June 27
Ice Breaker Reception - The Ice Breaker Reception will be held at Buckstop Junction for all attendees. Buckstop Junction is a reconstructed village east of Bismarck and contains actual buildings from the late 1800s to the early 1930s with turn-of-the-century atmosphere. Food and beverages will be served in the Lewis Hotel. While at Buckstop Junction, feel free to walk around and go through the open buildings. Be sure to enjoy a ride an antique car provided by the El Zagal Shrine Dusters. But keep on the look out for bandits; you just never know who will show up and what will happen. Buses will depart from the hotel at 5:45 p.m. and depart Buckstop Junction at 8:00 p.m. photos of Buckstop Junction

Monday, June 28
For guests, there will be a North Dakota Capitol and Heritage Center tour with a catered lunch on the mezzanine of the Heritage Center. The state capitol building, also known as the “Skyscraper on the Prairie,” stands proudly over the heart of Bismarck. North Dakota’s capitol building has a unique architectural design. In fact, no other capitol building in the world approaches it in simplicity, practicality, and usability. The North Dakota Heritage Center is located on the capitol grounds and serves as the state’s museum and houses one of the largest collections of Plains Indian artifacts in the nation. If time permits, take a walk along the arboretum trail which winds through the capitol grounds. Add the 43rdstate to the list of capitols you have visited. www.state.nd.us/hist/

Pitchfork Steak Fondue – There will be a Pitchfork Steak Fondue on Monday evening for all attendees. You will travel to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park south of Mandan. Here you will step into 1875 and visit the last home of General George Custer before he and the 7th Cavalry rode to the Little Bighorn. www.fortlincoln.com

Tuesday, June 29
For guests, there will be a tour of Historic Downtown Bismarck. The tour will take you to Camp Hancock, the Antique Mall, and other unique shops and stores. Camp Hancock is the site of a military camp dating back to 1872 and was used to protect Northern Pacific railroad workers. We will have lunch at the Historic Hotel Patterson, now known as the Peacock Alley.

Free Evening – Tuesday evening you will be free to choose where you would like to have supper. The Hospitality Room will have snack foods and beverages available, as well as some sample menus from area restaurants to make your dinner choice easier. We will provide transportation to and from area restaurants if necessary.

Wednesday, June 30
Technical Tour – Everyone is welcome to attend the Technical Tour on Wednesday afternoon.You will travel to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center located 35 miles north of Bismarck along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Here you will discover the legacy of the two frontiersmen, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, as well as their guide, Sakakawea. The entire journey is summarized so you can experience the heroic and human sides of these explorers and their friendships with the area=s Native Americans who helped them survive the winter. View the world-famous artwork of Karl Bodmer who chronicled Plains Indian life and landscapes along the Missouri River. You will also visit the reconstructed Fort Mandan, a replica of the winter headquarters of the Corps of Discovery from 1804 and 1805. If time permits, you might also visit the Knife River Indian Villages. Buses will depart the hotel at 12:30 p.m. and return to the hotel by 5:30 p.m. followed by an evening banquet with dinner entertainment. www.fortmandan.org

OTHER AREA ACTIVITIES

See the transportation desk to arrange for transportation to area activities or for more information and discount tickets to area activities where available.

There will be a Theater Room at the Hotel provided by Eggers Audio-Video that will be available. New Release DVD Movies will be available for viewing in the theater room.

Golfing will be made available during the entire conference. There are seven (7) courses to choose from. Tee times and transportation will be made available, see the transportation desk for travel arrangements and tee times.
www.bisparks.org/golf
www.hawktree.com
www.mandanparks.com/golf.htm

Raging Rivers Waterpark and Speed World Golf and Games www.ragingriverswaterpark.com
Dakota Zoo www.dakotazoo.org
Lewis & Clark River Boat www.lewisandclarkriverboat.com
Superslide Amusement Park (a 140 ft, 6-lane slide, carousel, mini golf, and much more)
Bismarck Arts and Galleries www.bismarck-art.org
Gateway to Science www.gscience.org
Former Governors Mansion www.state.nd.us/hist/
Keelboat Park
Railroad Museum
Fort Lincoln Trolley
Five Nations Arts Depot